Diamond Announces Top Products For July 2012
(BALTIMORE, MD) — (August 3, 2012) — Robert Kirkman's acclaimed zombie apocalypse series The Walking Dead, which has become a genuine pop culture phenomenon over the past year thanks to AMC's television series, reached a milestone issue with July's The Walking Dead #100 from Image Comics and, with nine covers from many of comics' top artists, was the best-selling comic book to the specialty market in July 2012, according to information provided by Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comics, graphic novels, and pop culture merchandise.
DC Entertainment was July’s leading publisher in both Retail Dollars and Unit Market Share, edging Marvel Comics on the dollars spent for the month 32.71% to 31.96% and on the unit share 36.55% to 35.34%. Image Comics was a strong third for the month with a dollar share of 9.42% and a unit share of 9.39%.
Geoff Johns and Gary Franks reimagined the history of Bruce Wayne and his early days as Gotham City's crusading hero in the original hardcover graphic novel Batman: Earth One, the best-selling graphic novel to retailers in July.
Bowen Designs' Spider-Man Action Statue, sculpted by Randy Bowen, was the best-selling toy product to comic book specialty retailers in July.
The final release in the Infinity Gauntlet saga leads to a cosmic conclusion with the WizKids/NECA's Marvel HeroClix: Chaos War Booster Brick, an expansion for the popular miniatures game and the best-selling games product to comic book specialty retailers in July.
PUBLISHER MARKET SHARES
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COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS
| DOLLARS | UNITS | |
| JULY 2012 VS. JUNE 2012 | ||
| COMICS | 0.61% | -1.96% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | -4.36% | 6.45% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | -0.95% | -1.33% |
| JULY 2012 VS. JULY 2011 | ||
| COMICS | 22.09% | 15.24% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 16.89% | 18.25% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 20.46% | 15.48% |
| YEAR-TO-DATE 2012 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2011 | ||
| COMICS | 20.72% | 18.59% |
| GRAPHIC NOVELS | 13.98% | 10.80% |
| TOTAL COMICS/GN | 18.51% | 17.95% |
TOP 10 COMICS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | THE WALKING DEAD #100 (MR) | $3.99 | MAY120469 | IMA |
| 2 | AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #7 | $3.99 | MAY120637 | MAR |
| 3 | AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #8 | $3.99 | MAY120643 | MAR |
| 4 | BATMAN #11 | $3.99 | MAY120224 | DC |
| 5 | JUSTICE LEAGUE #11 | $3.99 | MAY120192 | DC |
| 6 | BEFORE WATCHMEN: OZYMANDIAS #1 (MR) [*] | $3.99 | MAY120174 | DC |
| 7 | AVX VS. #4 | $3.99 | MAY120635 | MAR |
| 8 | DETECTIVE COMICS #11 | $3.99 | MAY120228 | DC |
| 9 | GREEN LANTERN #11 | $2.99 | MAY120242 | DC |
| 10 | ACTION COMICS #11 | $3.99 | MAY120212 | DC |
TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS & TRADE PAPERBACKS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | PRICE | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | BATMAN: EARTH ONE HC | $22.99 | MAR120234 | DC |
| 2 | FABLES VOLUME 17: INHERIT THE WIND TP (MR) | $14.99 | APR120282 | DC |
| 3 | RICHARD STARK’S PARKER: THE SCORE HC | $24.99 | FEB120313 | IDW |
| 4 | BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9: FREEFALL TP | $17.99 | APR120017 | DAR |
| 5 | INVINCIBLE VOLUME 16: FAMILY TIES TP | $16.99 | MAY120553 | IMA |
| 6 | BATMAN & ROBIN VOLUME 1: BORN TO KILL HC | $24.99 | MAR120241 | DC |
| 7 | LOCKE & KEY VOLUME 5: CLOCKWORKS HC | $24.99 | APR120391 | IDW |
| 8 | SUICIDE SQUAD VOL. 1: KICKED IN THE TEETH TP | $14.99 | APR120250 | DC |
| 9 | SCALPED VOLUME 9: KNUCKLE UP TP (MR) | $14.99 | APR120293 | DC |
| 10 | WILD CHILDREN ONE-SHOT (MR) | $7.99 | MAY120522 | IMA |
TOP 10 TOYS
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | SPIDER-MAN ACTION STATUE | JAN121830 | BOW |
| 2 | JUGGERNAUT STATUE | FEB121611 | BOW |
| 3 | MARVEL: STORM BISHOUJO STATUE | JAN121846 | KOT |
| 4 | JUSTICE LEAGUE: GREEN LANTERN WAVE 1 FIGURES | MAY128124 | DC |
| 5 | MARVEL SELECT: AVENGERS MOVIE HAWKEYE FIGURE | DEC111598 | DST |
| 6 | MARVEL SELECT: JUGGERNAUT FIGURE | JUN101512 | DST |
| 7 | TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES RETRO COLLECTOR FIGURES | APR121769 | PLA |
| 8 | CLASSIC AVENGERS: IRON MAN FINE ART STATUE | DEC111751 | KOT |
| 9 | JUSTICE LEAGUE: AQUAMAN WAVE 2 ACTION FIGURE | MAY128125 | DC |
| 10 | STAR WARS: YODA “THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK” ARTFX STATUE | DEC111753 | KOT |
TOP 10 GAMES
| RANK | DESCRIPTION | ITEM CODE | VENDOR |
| 1 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: CHAOS WAR BOOSTER BRICK | APR121987 | NEC |
| 2 | RISK LEGACY | JUN118204 | KEN |
| 3 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: 2013 CORE SET BOOSTERS | APR121977 | WIZ |
| 4 | MAGIC THE GATHERING TCG: 2013 CORE SET INTRO DECK | APR121980 | WIZ |
| 5 | COMIC-CON MOVIE IV: A FAN’S HOPE DVD/HEROCLIX COMBO PACK | APR128255 | NEC |
| 6 | MARVEL HEROCLIX: CHAOS WAR FAST FORCES 6-PACK | APR121988 | NEC |
| 7 | STAR TREK HEROCLIX TACTICS: AWAY TEAM 7-PACK | MAY122160 | NEC |
| 8 | DOCTOR WHO LENTICULAR ANIMATED CHESS SET | NOV111630 | UND |
| 9 | DC HEROCLIX: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES MARQUEE PACK | APR121982 | NEC |
| 10 | ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS FIRST EDITION PREMIUM DUNGEON MASTER’S GUIDE HC | MAR121889 | WIZ |
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| Dollar Market Share – July 2012 |
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| Unit Market Share– July 2012 |
How does Diamond calculate the charts? It all starts at the comic book shop.
Data for Diamond’s sales charts — which include the monthly market shares and all top product charts — are compiled by Diamond Comic Distributors from a universe of over 3,500 comic book specialty shops located inNorth Americaand around the world. The account base includes brick-and-mortar comic book specialty shops, Internet merchants, and other specialty stores.
Unit and dollars sales are calculated based upon orders invoiced and shipped to Diamond accounts during any given month, which comprises initial pre-orders, advance reorders, and reorders, minus any copies that are received back from a title marked as returnable.
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